New Gatchaman Comic Series from Mad Cave Studios

[SparklingNeon]

Hopefully those hardcovers will be the opportunity to fix and remaster all the typos, coloring errors, and other continuity slip-ups that happen. I guess anyone who get theirs first can let the rest of us know if there are any differences or what kind of neat extras there might be!

[Stardust]

I just read issue 15, I get it early because I pre order.
So, without giving away spoilers, I have to say the artwork is amazing, the fight scenes well done.
The story line however is a whole other thing. Like I don't know where in the blazes they're going with this.
The next bit is spoiler, hopefully the new tag Jason added works.

Spoiler

Out of the blue they dropped not one, but several new characters. I thought this was supposed to stay within the 105. These characters are so out of that realm. I'm not sure what to think. If anyone else has read this yet, or when you do, please, I want to hear other's views.

[SparklingNeon]

Well, now you definitely have me curious and waiting to get it. I was already wondering how the villains they've had so far could fit within the series and where we'd mentally place them, especially if Tatsunoko is so serious about things fitting in there. Guess the creative teams want to really leave their own mark in some way, if there wouldn't just be cannon fodder going on...and I guess it'll definitely be a waiting game to see how everything unfolds after that arc too. Will give thoughts after I get mine!

[Bobkat]

I didn't like 15 at all.

Spoiler

The characters were flat. It was a lot of dialogue for nothing. It was painful to read because every character was becoming 2-dimensional. It was very sad. A whole of "you betrayed us", "we're friends" BS was happening and it's just stupid. My first reaction was "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" and I wish I were joking.

I don't know if they're running out of ideas or what. And what's up with the three super beings at the end!? What the heck is that!? It doesn't fit and makes absolutely no sense unless Bunn and company are going to try to explain how the bird styles work. I'd rather not know at this point. It's becoming more and more of a train wreck and that's the saddest part of all.

In my humble opinion, adding these new OCs is NOT staying within the guardrails of the original 105. What royally ticked me off about 13 (I think that was the one) - was introducing 25 OCs only to kill them all off except for the five traitors. It was hugely missed opportunity to leave one or two alive just to show how horrific the Galactor Organization really is. I wish they would get back on track and shows us the relationship between Katse and Sosai. Show us the dynamics of the Ninja Team too without pigeon-holing the team members into stereotypes. Show us their humanity, show us their teamwork without a bunch of gibberish.

On a personal note, if I wanted to see something like what I saw with Katse and the Neo Blackbirds, I'd turn on the news!! Their storylines are going a bit too much into reality and if I wanted reality - I wouldn't read the comic!

This is probably more rant than spoiler. Sorry.

[KT1972]

I honestly expected them to wrap up the story in this issue, and kinda mixed that they haven't. I'm pleased because it means there are definitely more issues to come, but disappointed because I think the current story has gone as far as it should, and really don't understand why they're dragging it out.

[SparklingNeon]

Yeah, like I said in the spoiler thread, there seems to be an issue with arc 3 not fully feeling connected and actually flowing from arc 2 in regards to the developments which makes for the most severe problem. I'm always weighing the pros and cons with the series, hoping there are more "pros" but it's iffy right now especially with that long wait and wondering if arc 4 and anything beyond might course-correct story and pacing-wise, or live up to these expectations they apparently want to set. There are some ideas that I feel were fine in theory, but not so great in execution, and like with the Top Cow BOTP series I find myself mapping out any dangling plot threads and things that seemed to be set up, and wondering if they're meant to go anywhere or not or will just be forgotten.
Still wondering why Bunn left unless that'll come out someday, or like if Humphries is the new main guy for everything going forth or we get yet another low-key change-up.
The one-shots and minis, story-wise, feel like they can at least complete things since there's that expectation vs. the pacing of a main series and these arcs pretty much being "made for TPB" then having to contain things within such an arc...and then I wonder what story restrictions there might be vs. the author's own choices. I've noticed interviews about the series have died down, whether by design and not wanting to spoil anything or less podcast people being willing to interview anyone like Humphries to see what's up and what to expect.

Spoiler

The team already should have some idea the trainees betrayed them from them killing all those others, and beating up Jinpei, who's now surprised as heck they're in Galactor when he's the one who told them what happened? And it feels like what went on with the other characters (or that trainer who wound up being replaced by Katse!) was brushed over or not acknowledged at all, which you'd think would concern Nambu even if the facility wasn't their main base. Plus, for Ken and the others' talk of the trainees being their "friends", that's a lot of telling and not showing. Was getting some bad flashbacks of Teen Titans vol.3, where the characters would rant about how "Titans are family" or friends, but you couldn't feel the chemistry or friendship especially when the team were so catty, or being replaced or slaughtered so much. You don't really want that, but I guess the small comfort is the canon characters are ensured "safe", even if that's only by restrictions of keeping them in the first series. Besides the Beta Team helping them on that Sundew mission, there's no real build-up or impact to the loss of all those back-up ninjas, which you'd think would be the result and shock for the team. Sure, they experience a lot of deaths they'd have to likely compartmentalize or move on from, but the end of arc 2 was made such a big deal only for it seeming to be like all those other characters that died and the whole deal with Daiko just "doesn't matter". I feel even if they retconned one or two trainees to have survived later (probably Natsuko and Juro who we didn't see die on-panel, or Sharo if they pulled some "Mara's stab wasn't actually that fatal" swerve), there'd still probably be a lack of impact or emotional payoff at this rate which wouldn't be fun either. As it is, seems like those others might as well not have existed to start, unless that's addressed later.

And then you have to wonder if this will be a story of redemption, redemption equals death, or just tragic slaughter for those Neo Blackbirds, but it'd probably help to build up more "care" for them. Though yeah Bobkat, the thing that kind of bugs me beyond "what's going on there" about the Ascendancy as well as with the Raven and if all this works within the 105... is how their designs don't even fit the aesthetic? Some of the trainees were already pushing it, art style-wise and NOT some of the complaints I've seen from dudes about how they didn't want diversity in their old anime (nuff said on that matter), to where they and the canon characters look like they're from completely different shows when they're on the same page. The Raven looks more like he belongs in the OVA or the NTT adverts, maybe even the scrapped Imagi film lol. I get he has to be secretive, maybe he's a cyborg, but feel he'd be an animator's nightmare for the original show. I guess with the Neo Blackbirds, you can modify the Blackbird costumes a little and it still "works", but then with creating all-new OCs, feel like the whimsy and other aspects of the classic anime should be reflected too. I do kind of wonder if Mad Cave or the creative teams know of the praise or crit, or any feedback, or even how the title's doing. I guess the sales are all right, but if the ongoing is to continue on even past the original stop point they'd outlined or even somehow go beyond the first series, things really have to be thought out!

[Stardust]

I am so glad I am not alone here in my feelings.
I had a few other thoughts too. In regard to Katse, him taking traitors on are kind of out of character for him. He usually uses the traitors and then discards them because he feels what's to stop you from turning on Galactor. Who knows, maybe that's the plan with the secret note of G forever I'm still on your side.
I also felt it would have made more sense if Red Impulse had shown up, not this random person. In fact Steve Orlando told me there are plans to bring in Red Impulse.
Like where is Tatsunoko in all this?
I didn't hear Cullen Bunn left, news to me. As for wondering if the creative team is aware. I plan to reach out to Chris Batista, because I'm in contact with him, and let him know the fandom is very unhappy with 15. Maybe he'll throw me a ray of hope. He has before.
It's a shame really, because the one shots are awesome. I really enjoyed them.
I agree with what everyone has said here.
I'd love to hear your take on things Jason.

[SparklingNeon]

Yeah, I'm wondering what the deal with Bunn is too, they don't seem to have remarked on it much. There was a podcast months ago where he seemed to speak as if he was still involved with turning in scripts, so I've wondered if he just took a break or there's alternating, or if something came up. Depends on what the lead time is like for all those scripts, but then I've seen people on other sites celebrating that he apparently left and hoping Humphries would be better. Obviously only those who know would know, and maybe there's NDA involved, so not going to ask for that, haha.

I'd certainly wonder if the traitors are marked for doom with them retreating against Katse's order to stay, though, as if that's to set up further trouble. There's also the fact that they seemed perfectly fine with trusting Katse after he unveiled his true self, but I guess his drugging and their thirst for power/revenge could explain why they'd so easily side with the enemy (but still quite concerning!).

Red Impulse is one of my biggest questions for where this series' storyline is supposed to take place within the 105, actually! There's a very clear shift in the series pre-Red Impulse's demise and post-that, and of course if he shows up in the mainline that'd mean it all takes place pre-episode 53, but things still feel a bit "big" for that. If the ongoing is meant to be roughly post-Kentaro's death, then Masaki and Onishi would still be cool to see something from.
I do wonder where Orlando's mini-series is taking place within things too. Not to be a big canon-thumper, and yet, if that's what the higher-ups are so concerned about beyond an "evergreen" feel, there are certain parts of canon that are a little more distinct than others. I can understand not wanting to fuss too much about where everything might exactly fit, but within the first series, there really are some events that kind of make a difference as to where certain stories could fall; the Red Impulse arc, Joe learning about his parents being part of Galactor, the destruction of Crescent Coral (well, we don't seem there yet), the secrets unfolding about Katse, etc.
And yeah, I wonder when we'll get Leader X and Katse kind of scenes in the main series, considering how memorable those get and the whole power-play dynamic that was done well in the Galactor mini.

I hope I'm not just taken as "complaining", though I guess others would understand too? I believe writers all have their own takes and of course there will be dissonance in how they see the characters vs. how other writers or fans do, but of course, feedback and crit or even the right kind of fine-tuning from editorial helps with figuring out what lands or doesn't, or what can be for a strong story. There are horror stories of writers who are too constrained by editors and made to basically write out something on order (see that with DC and Marvel), but then, sometimes you need an editor or other eyes to look at how things are going. Of course with an outline of five arcs, they probably each had a given theme and story to tell, probably not much room for other matters but with new characters and stories "secretly inbetween" the 105 yet with such big, dramatic developments, they kind of feel like they have to matter, right?

[Bobkat]

I am so glad I am not alone here in my feelings.
I had a few other thoughts too. In regard to Katse, him taking traitors on are kind of out of character for him. He usually uses the traitors and then discards them because he feels what's to stop you from turning on Galactor. Who knows, maybe that's the plan with the secret note of G forever I'm still on your side.
I also felt it would have made more sense if Red Impulse had shown up, not this random person. In fact Steve Orlando told me there are plans to bring in Red Impulse.
Like where is Tatsunoko in all this?
I didn't hear Cullen Bunn left, news to me. As for wondering if the creative team is aware. I plan to reach out to Chris Batista, because I'm in contact with him, and let him know the fandom is very unhappy with 15. Maybe he'll throw me a ray of hope. He has before.
It's a shame really, because the one shots are awesome. I really enjoyed them.
I agree with what everyone has said here.
I'd love to hear your take on things Jason.

I agree with everything you've said Stardust, so no, you're definitely not alone. I have thoroughly enjoyed the one-shots as they were very well done. There's even a few, such as Ken's Deathmatch, that could have stretched to 3-4 issues. There are several plot lines that were left dangling in that one. Perfect example was the promise Ken made to the girl. It would have been nice to see the interaction between Ken and her teacher. They nailed the characters perfectly.

Another one I liked was #6 - the first pause issue. It was different but it was fun and frankly, I'd love to see a Battle mini and with Ken and Joe playing table tennis - give me a break!! That's a Mark & Jason thing!! Mad Cave just proved they could do it!!

I hadn't heard Bunn had left either. I feel like the storytellers now in charge need to rewatch the series. I also agree with KT1972 - they need to wrap things up. Comics aren't very forgiving when you start screwing up the story flow. You have a finite amount of space to get your point across and tell a *complete* story.

I hope someone isn't sabotaging the series but when I read 15, that's what it felt like. It felt like it was degenerating in front of our eyes.

I'm not trying to be a downer about the comic series. So I apologize if it seems that way. I just want this right. there is a balance here and the story team needs to get it back on track.

[Stardust]

- there yet), the secrets unfolding about Katse, etc.
And yeah, I wonder when we'll get Leader X and Katse kind of scenes in the main series, considering how memorable those get and the whole power-play dynamic that was done well in the Galactor mini.

I hope I'm not just taken as "complaining", though I guess others would understand too? I believe writers all have their own takes and of course there will be dissonance in how they see the characters vs. how other writers or fans do, but of course, feedback and crit or even the right kind of fine-tuning from editorial helps with figuring out what lands or doesn't, or what can be for a strong story. There are horror stories of writers who are too constrained by editors and made to basically write out something on order (see that with DC and Marvel), but then, sometimes you need an editor or other eyes to look at how things are going. Of course with an outline of five arcs, they probably each had a given theme and story to tell, probably not much room for other matters but with new characters and stories "secretly inbetween" the 105 yet with such big, dramatic developments, they kind of feel like they have to matter, right?

I don't think you're complaining at all. If 15 did anything it's got us all talking lol.
And yes! Wheres the tension between Sosai and Katse? Like I'm pretty sure Sosai would weigh in on this whole thing. Orlando did a great job on that relationship.